Method and apparatus for producing oxygen and nitrogen and membrane therefor

Patent · Tue Sep 17 00:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:7152152

Roman, I C; Baker, R W

Process and apparatus for the separation and purification of oxygen and nitrogen as well as a novel membrane useful therein are disclosed. The process utilizes novel facilitated transport membranes to selectively transport oxygen from one gaseous stream to another, leaving nitrogen as a byproduct. In the method, an oxygen carrier capable of reversibly binding molecular oxygen is dissolved in a polar organic membrane which separates a gaseous feed stream such as atmospheric air and a gaseous product stream. The feed stream is maintained at a sufficiently high oxygen pressure to keep the oxygen carrier in its oxygenated form at the interface of the feed stream with the membrane, while the product stream is maintained at a sufficiently low oxygen pressure to keep the carrier in its deoxygenated form at the interface of the product stream with the membrane. In an alternate mode of operation, the feed stream is maintained at a sufficiently low temperature and high oxygen pressure to keep the oxygen carrier in its oxygenated form at the interface of the feed stream with the membrane and the product stream is maintained at a sufficiently high temperature to keep the carrier in its deoxygenated form at the interface of the product stream with the membrane. Under such conditions, the carrier acts as a shuttle, picking up oxygen at the feed side of the membrane, diffusing across the membrane as the oxygenated complex, releasing oxygen to the product stream, and then diffusing back to the feed side to repeat the process. Exceptionally and unexpectedly high O[sub 2]/N[sub 2] selectivity, on the order of 10 to 30, is obtained, as well as exceptionally high oxygen permeability, on the order of 6 to 15 [times] 10[sup [minus]8] cm[sup 3]-cm/cm[sup 2]-sec-cmHg, as well as a long membrane life of in excess of 3 months, making the process commercially feasible. 2 figs.

• Research Organization: Bend Research Inc
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-79ER10337
• Assignee: Bend Research, Inc., OR (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 4542010; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 6-393712
• OSTI ID: 7152152
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 30 Jun 1982
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
OXYGEN
MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
SUPPORTED LIQUID MEMBRANES
DESIGN
AIR
OPERATION
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SERVICE LIFE
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
LIFETIME
MEMBRANES
NONMETALS
320303* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Equipment & Processes
400105 - Separation Procedures